On Tue Nov 15, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicare (CMS) announced three demonstration projects that aim to strengthen Medicare by eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse. Reductions in improper payments will help ensure the sustainability of the Medicare Trust Funds and protect beneficiaries who depend upon the Medicare program.
CMS is pleased to announce that the Prior Authorization of Power Mobility Devices (PMDs) Demonstration and the Recovery Audit Prepayment Review Demonstration – which were delayed from their initial Sun Jan 1 start-date – are expected to move forward on or after Fri June 1, 2012. For additional information on these demonstrations, please visit http://go.CMS.gov/cert-demos. These demonstrations will begin after receipt of a Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) Office of Management and Budget control number. CMS posted a PRA notification for these demonstrations on Fri Feb 3 at http://www.CMS.gov/PaperworkReductionActof1995/PRAL/list.asp. CMS significantly revised the Prior Authorization of PMDs demonstration in response to provider and supplier concerns. For more information on the adopted changes please visit http://go.CMS.gov/PAdemo. The Part A to Part B Rebilling Demonstration began on Sun Jan 1, 2012. To view the relevant Federal Register notice, visit https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2012-02821.pdf. ________________________________ It’s Not too Late to Give and Get the Flu Vaccine. Take advantage of each office visit and protect your patients against the seasonal flu. Medicare will continue to pay for the seasonal flu vaccine and its administration for all Medicare beneficiaries through the entire flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that patients, healthcare workers and caregivers be vaccinated against the seasonal flu. Protect your patients. Protect your family. Protect yourself. Get the Flu Vaccine—Not the Flu. Remember – The flu vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. CMS has posted the 2011-2012 seasonal flu vaccine payment limits at http://www.CMS.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/10_VaccinesPricing.asp. Note that the flu vaccine is NOT a Part D-covered drug. For more information on coverage and billing of the flu vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational provider resources, visit http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp and http://www.cms.gov/immunizations. ________________________________ Note: If you have problems accessing any hyperlink in this message, please copy and paste the URL into your Internet browser. If you know someone who would like to subscribe to a Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) provider listserv, go to (http://www.cms.gov/prospmedicarefeesvcpmtgen/downloads/Provider_Listservs.pdf). If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific provider listserv, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?INDEX) to unsubscribe or to leave the appropriate listserv. Please DO NOT respond to this email. This email is a service of CMS and routed through an electronic mail server to communicate Medicare policy and operational changes and/or updates. Responses to this email are not routed to CMS personnel. Inquiries may be sent by going to (http://www.cms.gov/ContactCMS). Thank you.
